The faux hawk, also known as the fohawk, is a modern men’s hairstyle with longer, spiky hair on top and a short taper, fade or undercut on the sides. This cut offers a stylish look, blending edgy punk allure with contemporary sophistication to achieve a versatile, charming alternative to the classic mohawk.
The latest faux hawk styles feature a timeless, playful and easy-to-maintain aesthetic, making them a popular choice for guys seeking a cool vibe that also works in professional settings. These adaptations look more like a quiff with defined, spiky styling than the retro punk-rock symbol for rebellion and non-conformity.
From short to long, a faux hawk can provide fresh inspiration for those daring individuals willing to experiment with a trendy style.
Popular Faux Hawk Haircut Ideas
Curly Faux Hawk with Burst Fade
This artistic, youthful style celebrates the natural texture and movement of tight curls. A thick strip of luscious ringlets flows from the hairline to the nape, while an undercut fade creates beautifully defined edges. Honey blonde tips add a touch of contrast, and a hint of fringe falling over the forehead lends a boyish charm. Styling mousse or curl cream is key to achieving and maintaining the beautiful definition.
Brushed-Up Faux Hawk with Disconnected Undercut Fade
This striking style is perfect for guys with naturally thick locks who want to pair the faux hawk with a disconnected undercut fade. The hair is brushed directly upward, creating a swooping hawk shape, while the severe undercut adds contrast. The result is a confident and individualistic look that exudes edginess and personality.
Faux Hawk Taper Fade
The faux hawk taper fade is a classic cut that blends rugged handsomeness with versatility. The punk-inspired style features a voluminous top that’s spiked backward with pomade or matte clay for effortless lift. The subtle taper blends beautifully into a full beard, creating a masculine look that enhances a strong jawline. It’s a perfect choice for any occasion.
Spiky Faux Hawk High Fade
Not for the faint-hearted, this dramatic style brings incredible texture to shorter, thick locks. The sides are buzzed close to the skin, and a high fade creates a distinctive separation from the spiked top. Boost the volume with heat, and lock the rigid spikes in place with a high-shine gel for a grungy, rebellious aesthetic.
Faux Hawk Fade
This fresh, trendy haircut offers impressive versatility, allowing guys to experiment with everything from a low taper to an edgy burst fade. The faded back and sides highlight the longer top, ensuring a sleek, timeless feel. Your barber should perform a clipper fade, leaving length at the front and around the crown to texturize with a styling cream.
Modern Faux Hawk
The modern faux hawk is an awesome hairstyle involving a burst faded cut paired with a short, textured wider strip of hair across the top, creating a sharp silhouette. This iconic variation naturally works with a mid or high burst fade to emphasize contrast. Grow out the hair to achieve high-volume spikes that settle into place with a strong-hold pomade.
Messy Faux Hawk Undercut with Beard
This bold style features a messy faux hawk paired with an undercut and beard, creating a rugged, Viking-inspired look. Grow the top long, and ask your barber to use thinning shears to remove bulk and add layers for lightweight movement. A close crop on the sides offers a seamless transition into your full beard, while a medium-hold pomade or matte wax keeps your hair in place.
Short Faux Hawk with Buzzed Sides
This ultra-masculine style combines elements of the classic buzz cut and the edgier mohawk. Leave a couple of inches of hair on top and roughly spike it with a hard gel for a shiny, sophisticated look. Buzz the sides close to the skin for daring contrast, and wear a full, well-groomed beard for balance. It’s a look that’s sure to leave a lasting impression.
Textured Fohawk Fade with Beard
A textured fohawk fade looks dashing with a grown-out stubble beard, bringing balance to your look while maintaining a modern feel. The bulk is point-cut to create a rough, slightly messy look, and the sides fade from the temples for a gradual transition into an immaculately trimmed beard. This style works on virtually any hair texture but looks best on thick, straight hair.
Frohawk Fade
The frohawk fade is a stylish, modern haircut for athletic black men who prefer edgy styles that promise functionality and sleekness. The tousled afro is thicker and longer in the front but shorter and thinner in the back, creating lofty volume. A shaved line starts at the hairline on either side and ends at the center of the beautifully faded sides.
Low Fade Faux Hawk
This look modernizes the classic style with classy blended sides, making it perfect for professional men who need to abide by a strict corporate dress code. The spiked front and voluminous crown bring visual interest, but the lack of clipping and V-shaped back bring classic refinement to the cut that looks more natural than sharper fades.
Blonde Faux Hawk with High Fade
This attractive look elevates your style and commands attention. Ask your stylist for cool platinum or warmer honey-toned highlights for a natural look against dark roots. The sharp, high fade pulls focus to the textured spikes, creating the illusion of fullness on even the thinnest strands.
Trendy Faux Hawk with Skin Fade
This badass cut is an inspiring style that shows off your edgy personality while making a fashion-forward statement. The high skin fade offers a clean, refreshing canvas that lets the faux hawk shine. Inject personality into this sharp, defined style with silver highlights or a dapper, tapered beard.
Edgy Faux Hawk with Razor Fade and Beard
This edgy style channels the punk-rock era with a daring razor fade and beard. Instead of a typical taper, the razor fade brings completely shaved sides to the mix. Style the thick top with pomade, and keep your facial hair well-groomed and squared off to elongate the face.
Textured Faux Hawk with Drop Fade
This dramatic look features a textured faux hawk paired with a drop fade, a modern cut characterized by an arc shape that curves around the head. The hair gradually tapers down the back for a dynamic touch, creating a unique aesthetic that exudes confidence. Ask your barber to neatly define the hair around the nape for a touch of structure.
Thick Faux Hawk with Drop Fade
This style artfully balances the voluminous body on top with an abrupt skin fade at the sides. The hair is thickest and fullest along the crown and shortest at the sides and nape, while a swooped fringe creates an attractive profile that can elongate a round or square face. The drop fade forms a sleek, polished V at the back, pulling the look together.
Mid Fade Faux Hawk
This versatile, contemporary style combines a voluminous, messy top with faded sides for a cool, textured appearance. The fade starts higher on the head, typically tapering down from the temples. Slick the hair back for an elegant look or unleash your rebellious side by spiking damp hair upward with a firm-hold pomade or wax.
Short Faux Hawk
This cool, short faux hawk offers a striking, masculine appearance with minimal effort. The cut is characterized by a short layered top and faded sides, delivering modern edge with dimension and structure. Maintain natural flow with a sea salt spray, or lock your look in place with pomade for a textured, matte finish.
Short Textured Fohawk Fade with Design
This handsome style is perfect for guys with naturally curly or wavy hair, making styling easy and suitable for any occasion. The look starts with a traditional gentleman’s cut featuring a curly fringe, and the razor fade at the sides creates the iconic fohawk shape. The clean edge at the nape adds refined sophistication, while the two shaved lines are expressive and bold.
Long Faux Hawk Fade
A smooth fade complements this long faux hawk hairstyle by emphasizing the length and definition while adding sharp contrast to the look. Longer hair requires time and patience, but the striking profile will be worth the wait. A strong hair product will be essential to maintaining the style throughout the day.
Buzz Cut Faux Hawk
This short, simple haircut combines the allure of the modern mohawk with the easy styling and functionality of very short hair. The hair is longest – no more than half an inch – in the middle, stretching from the forehead to the nape.
Spiked Faux Hawk Fade with Design
A contemporary classic featuring a voluminous quiff-like style and a burst fade at the back. The skin fade is relatively subdued, easing the transition from the top to the sides for an almost-preppy finish. Adding a few shaved lines at the sides allows for fun personalization and expressive flair.
Layered Faux Hawk Fade
An edgy, high-contrast men’s cut for those rebellious types who like to stand out. A wide strip of long, layered locks stands straight up along the crown but falls forward at the front, forming a messy fringe. Platinum tips add a striking contrast against golden blonde hair, while the undercut fade offers a glimpse of deep, dark roots. Ample hairspray is a must to lock this bold style.
Faded Short Spiky Fohawk with Line Up
This angular, multi-layered cut blends artfully tousled tresses with faded sides and a sharp line-up. The chunky hair on top stands straight up, elongating the face, while the two distinct transition points at the sides add flattering visual interest. Work texturizing pomade into damp hair and brush it backward against the growth to create definition and lift.
Curly Faux Hawk Fade
An adaptable style that flatters any face shape, this cut features a wide strip of thick, layered curls flowing from a medium-length fringe to the center back. The fade starts high and transitions slowly for a relaxed, easygoing vibe. Add curl cream to damp hair and allow it to dry for incredible definition and separation.
Disheveled Faux Hawk with High Taper Fade
Unpredictable and chaotic, this style enhances the precision of the high taper fade. The longer hair brushes up and back like a quiff, offering versatility – slick it back for a formal look or let it loose with a firm-hold pomade on weekends.
Classy Faux Hawk with Low Fade
A refined and sophisticated style that minimizes contrast for a balanced, harmonious look. Ask your barber to keep the top relatively uniform and lightly push the fringe backward with pomade for subtle lift. The low fade tapers toward the neckline from ear level, creating a polished feel with natural flow.
Skin Faded Faux Hawk with Layered Spikes
Gravity-defying height and a bespoke profile make this faux hawk a head-turner. The long hair at the front stands straight up, acting as the focal point, while disheveled layers along the top taper to the skin above the ear. Add bold color streaks or frosted tips for a personal touch.
Brushed Back Faux Hawk Fade
A low-key version of the classic mohawk suitable for any occasion. Thick “spikes” flow upward and back along the crown, with a flawless razor fade slightly dropping at the back. Apply styling gel, wrap sections around a round brush and blow dry. Separate the front for texture and use a wide comb on the back and sides.
Burst Fade Mohawk
Refined and polished from the front but edgy from the sides and back. A strip of hair wider at the hairline but narrower at the nape blends seamlessly into the high fade. Clean edges contrast the curvature, and a sculpted beard adds the finishing touch.
Trendy Faux Hawk with Shaved Sides
Exuding confidence and individuality, this look features contrasting lengths and shine. A strip of hair treated with gel falls upward and forward from the back, culminating in a brushed-up quiff. An abrupt taper transitions to the skin high on the head, forming the distinct shape, while a short beard rounds out the rugged appearance.
Long Faux Hawk with Burst Fade
Combining a mullet’s iconic shape with mohawk features, this style piles numerous thick layers on top for impressive volume and texture. A shaved line separates the razor fade from the cropped hair above, and the clean, sharp edges contrast nicely with the curly hair texture.
Faux Hawk with Short Sides
Epitomizing the mid-90s alternative scene, this punk-rock style features tousled, messy spikes flowing from the hairline over the crown and contrasting with the cropped sides. A brushed-up fringe adds quirky flair, while a patchy beard and thin mustache lend rugged masculinity.
Black Faux Hawk Fade
Embracing natural hair’s texture, movement, and depth, this cut features long, twisted curls standing up from the top, creating an attractive profile. The abrupt fade at the sides contrasts sharply, visually enhancing the height on top. An immaculate edge up along the hairline adds sleek sophistication.
Short Faux Hawk with Mid Skin Fade
A confident and refined cut suitable for any occasion. The quiff at the hairline blends into layered ripples across the top, mimicking ocean waves. The razor fade at the sides offers a subdued transition to the skin above the ear and then blends into a full beard for symmetry and polish. Texturizing pomade and hair wax are essential for recreating this look.
Cool Faux Hawk with Tapered Sides
A sophisticated, sexy hairstyle that exudes mature confidence and charm. The cropped taper emphasizes the length on top, while a full beard adds masculinity. Great for guys with fine hair or receding hairlines, it requires little styling effort – just apply matte pomade to damp hair, brush sections upward, and blow-dry against the natural growth.
Undercut Faux Hawk
A bold yet cultured choice for professionals preferring an edgy style within business norms. Longer hair in front stands straight up and back, while shorter hair on top falls forward in chunky layers. An undercut taper starts high, softening the transition to stubble at the sides for an unpretentious, elegant and versatile look.
Low Taper Faux Hawk
Embracing class and texture, this cut combines conservative, scissor-cut sides with a rock-and-roll spiked top. The taper starts relatively low and blends effortlessly into longer hair. Without a fade, it’s wearable with the extra inches allowing you to spike up or slick back your hair depending on the occasion.
Messy Faux Hawk Fade
Concentrating the spikes in the middle with tousled, unkempt styling, this relaxed cut is ideal for guys who prefer a low-maintenance routine. A mid fade offers a bad-boy edge to the choppy layers, while the disheveled finish ensures an effortless, carefree vibe.
Hawk Fade with Part
An adventurous, dramatic and striking look that lends well to dynamic colors and fun designs. The hair is relatively short at the crown but gradually gets longer towards the brushed-up spikes in front. A shaved line along the side gives the illusion of an undercut.
Euro Hawk
Combining European charm with the traditional mohawk’s rebellious edge. The layered hair flows forward from the crown, lifting slightly upward at the front, while a high taper abruptly transitions to the skin. Two shaved geometric lines and a low-sitting beard complement the relaxed yet edgy aesthetic.
Faux Hawk with Spiked Front and Shape Up
Blending punk and preppy sophistication, this cut features a thick mass of blunt spikes at the front, with hair along the crown flowing towards the face. A drop razor fade leads to a seamless skin transition, while the polished shape-up adds freshness. The height on top visually elongates the face.
Sophisticated Faux Hawk Quiff with Taper Fade
A timeless, casual and versatile style suitable for any occasion. The relatively short quiff lifts upward and curls backward from the forehead, while longer hair leans forward from the crown for a chunky, spiky appearance. A subtle fade and stubbly beard bring rugged masculinity.
Faux Hawk Fade with Full Beard
Combining impressive volume with impeccable razor skills, this modern, trendy and professional style features chunky, piecey layers standing straight up to form blunt spikes. The fade has two distinct transitions creating a striking two-toned effect, while short, well-groomed facial hair balances the top length.
Modern Mohawk Fade
The ultimate expression of individuality, with blown-out texture, two-toned color, and geometric lines. The thick, bleach-blonde spikes contrast sharply with dark roots and sides. The high fade and single shaved line signify the transition to stubble, creating an amped-up look perfect for nonconformists and punk enthusiasts.
High Fade Faux Hawk
Dramatic and daring, a high fade faux hawk achieves a high-contrast feel by creating sharp sides that taper close to the skin. Removing weight from the sides draws the eye to the voluminous top, and it’s worth emphasizing dense locks with purposeful, thick spikes to give this textured style more oomph. A sexy line up and a clean shave will bring striking dimension to square, angular faces for an ultra-masculine, punk aesthetic that lets your natural features shine.
Low Drop Fade Fohawk
A low drop fade is a stylish addition to any fohawk, offering a precise, dipped appearance around the ear and the back of the head for a sleek and modern look. The drop fade lets guys retain more length and texture on top, creating a wider faux hawk that balances denser locks. Scrunch the hair lightly at the root for subtle texture or deliberately pull the hair into separate spikes for a more dynamic feel. Complement the stylish dropped appearance with a stubble beard expertly trimmed around the chin and jawline.
